Towers for accessing an interior of a fuselage assembly

Abstract

An apparatus for accessing an interior of a fuselage assembly. A tower having a number of platform levels may be driven into a selected tower position within an assembly area. The interior of the fuselage assembly may be accessed using the number of platform levels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a tower having a base structure, a number of platform levels associated with the base structure, a tower coupling unit located on a first face of the base structure, a utility coupler located on a second face of the base structure of the tower, and at least one of a number of utility cables or a number of utility connection devices, wherein:
 the first face is a different face of the base structure than the second face; 
 the utility coupler comprises a set of coupling units configured to mate with a corresponding set of coupling units associated with a utility fixture to form an interface configured to provide a connection with a number of utilities, 
 the tower coupling unit is configured to connect to a coupling unit of an assembly fixture to form a network of second utility cables, the tower coupling unit and the utility coupler being configured to couple the number of utilities between utility fixture, the tower, and the assembly fixture such that the tower is configured to function as a conduit to distribute the number of utilities to the assembly fixture from the utility fixture, 
 the assembly fixture being downstream from both the tower and the utility fixture and configured to hold and support a fuselage assembly; 
 the number of utility cables is configured to carry the number of utilities received from the set of coupling units of the utility coupler to a number of internal mobile platforms located on the number of platform levels; and 
 the number of utility connection devices is associated with the base structure and configured to provide the number of utilities to a number of human-operated tools connected to the number of utility connection devices; and a vehicle that is coupled with the base structure. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle that is integral with the tower. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle removably coupled to the tower. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tower is selected from one of an operator tower and a robotics tower. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the number of platform levels is configured to provide access to an interior of a fuselage assembly. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the number of platform levels comprises:
 a first platform level configured to provide access to a cargo floor of a fuselage assembly; and 
 a second platform level configured to provide access to a passenger floor of the fuselage assembly. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tower is located in a selected tower position within an assembly area relative to a utility fixture. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a cable management system associated with the base structure of the tower, wherein the cable management system is configured to manage the number of utility cables configured to carry the number of utilities. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a laser tracking system associated with the tower. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the laser tracking system comprises:
 a number of laser tracking devices associated with at least one of the base structure or the number of platform levels. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a number of radar targets associated with at least one of the base structure or the number of platform levels. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the number of internal mobile platforms, located on the number of platform levels, wherein the number of internal mobile platforms is configured to move relative to the number of platform levels. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an internal robotic device physically attached to an internal mobile platform of the number of internal mobile platforms. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tower further comprises a plurality of stabilizing members associated with the base structure, wherein the plurality of stabilizing members is configured to stabilize the base structure relative to a floor, and wherein the vehicle is configured to lift the base structure such that a load of the tower is transferred from the plurality of stabilizing members to the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle is configured to lower the tower such that the plurality of stabilizing members is in contact with the floor and at least a portion of the load is carried by the plurality of stabilizing members. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of stabilizing members has a plurality of leveling members configured to level the base structure relative to the floor. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the internal robotic device comprises an end effector. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of a drilling tool, a fastener insertion tool, a fastener installation tool, or an inspection tool is associated with the end effector. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first cable management system associated with the first platform level and configured to manage a subset of the number of utility cables; and 
 a second cable management system associated with the second platform level and configured to manage a second subset of the number of utility cables. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tower or the vehicle is configured to communicate with a set of controllers, the set of controllers configured to generate commands to control the operation of at least one of the tower or the vehicle. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of stabilizing members is a plurality of hydraulic legs.